If you told me a few months ago that I would be writing my second post about how to build a fence, I would not believe you, but here we are! Today’s post is a quick overview of my process in building a pallet fence for my garden. I had a bit of trial and error, so I hope this post helps you go at your own fence with confidence!
What’s in this post
Why a Pallet Fence?
Well, for starters, you can get pallets for FREE! We actually didn’t have to go hunting because a friend found a bunch for us, but they’re really not hard to find.
This fence can be put together in just a couple of hours. Once you get started, the rest is very quick!
I wasn’t in need of a permanent fence, or even a super durable one. Its main purpose is keeping the dog out of the garden beds. My dog isn’t a jumper or a digger, so this works great.
What You’ll Need
- Pallets– Make sure they’re all the same height. A few of different widths might benefit you for spacing, and you might find a smaller one for your gate, but nearly all of them should be the same size.
- T-Posts– You’ll need to measure your pallets to know how many you’ll need and what height you should get. Get one post per pallet required, and grab a few extra to account for ends and your gate.
- T-post Driver– If you have a friend that owns one, see if you can borrow it. Otherwise, you can grab these wherever you purchase your T-posts.
- 3-inch Deck Screws– It’s important to get deck screws as they are outdoor-rated.
- 1-inch Screws for Hinges
- Drill or Impact Driver
- Hinges and Latch for Gate
How to Build a Pallet Fence
The construction of this fence is simple, but you do want to have a solid plan before you start. Decide where you want your gate to be, find (or make) sturdy starting points and corners-if you need them. For me, I would be screwing one end into my shed. For the other end, I attached a 2×4 to my yard fence.
Next, accounting for your starting points and corners, lay your pallets on the ground exactly how you’d like them to be when standing. Make sure they’re flush to each other on the sides. This way you’ll know exactly how the spacing will work out. If you need to switch any pallets for wider or skinnier ones, this is your chance.
Place your first t-post. Start with one of your sturdy ends (I started at my shed). With your pallet still on the ground, place the t-post on your fence line, just inside the opposite edge board of the pallet. Pick the pallet up, raise it over the t-post, and slide the pallet down around it. You want the post to be flush to the inside of the pallet (or at least close enough for a screw to pull it flush).
Use your 3-inch screws to attach the pallet to your sturdy end, then place two to three 1-inch screws through the holes in the t-post to attach the other side of the pallet. These screws in the t-post are temporary.
Congrats! You’ve placed your first pallet.
To start the next one, place your t-post just like the one before. Slide your second pallet over the new post, ensuring it is flush on the inside with the new post and that the opposite edge is flush with the previous pallet (or at least close).
Place your 1-inch screws in the new t-post, just like the first one.
Now, return to your first post. Remove one temporary screw at a time, replacing each with a 3-inch screw as you go. These screws will go through to the next pallet, pulling them together.
Repeat this process for each subsequent pallet until you get to your gate. Then start from the opposite end, and work your way to the gate again.
When you have placed all of your stationary pallets, give them a good check for sturdiness. If you’re satisfied, attach your gate hardware, and hang your gate. Just make sure it’s raised from the ground enough to swing freely.
You can see in my photos that I obviously need to get a latch, but this gear tie is doing the job for now. Wouldn’t be homestead life if it didn’t include a bit of making-do!
I hope this post inspired you to make your own garden fence this year! It may not be fancy, but I kind of like it that way.
If you’ve built your own fence, I’d love to see photos of your finished product! And if you decide to go with this method, let me know if you have any questions. Feel free to comment here or message me on Facebook or Instagram.
Thank you for visiting Headed for a Homestead Blog. I’m Rebekah, your creator and author since 2023. As a new blogger in this big space, I’m still learning the ropes, and just as excited as when I began. I hope you’ll take some time to look around and maybe find a recipe or project you’d like to try.
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